Contents
Élie Metchnikoff
Discovering how immune cells engulf and destroy invading material.
Phagocytosis paper · Comparative pathology
- Born
- 15 May 1845
- Birthplace
- Kharkiv region, Ukraine
- Died
- 2 July 1916
More people
Élie Metchnikoff
Élie Metchnikoff was a zoologist whose work helped establish cellular immunology. He shared the 1908 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Paul Ehrlich.
Early life
Natural history
Was interested in botany and geology as a child.
University
Completed a natural-sciences course at Kharkov in two years.
Career
- 1867
Academic work
Returned from European research to university appointments in the Russian Empire.
- 1882
Phagocytosis
Observed defensive cells surrounding a thorn in starfish larvae.
- 1888
Pasteur Institute
Moved to Paris and continued research there.
- 1908
Nobel recognition
Shared the physiology or medicine prize.
Contributions
Phagocytosis paper
Presented his explanation of cells engulfing foreign material.
Comparative pathology
Published lectures on inflammation.
Immunity in Infectious Diseases
Developed his account of immune defence.
Beyond research
Partnership
Married Olga Belokopytova in 1875 after the death of his first wife.
Ageing
His later interests included longevity and the effects of intestinal microbes.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Biography and contributions ↗Photo: The Library of Congress. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
